Menachot

in respect of leaven on the Passover Festival or in respect of the Day of Atonement which involve the penalty of kareth we rely upon public notices,1 how much more so may we rely upon them here where only the transgression of a positive precept can be involved!2 — Rather, said Raba, I suggested the following explanation3 and in the West it was similarly4 reported in the name of R. ‘Zera: The apprehension is that the linen garment may have been torn within three fingerbreadths’ distance [from the hem] and it had been sewn together [with linen threads, and the threads were left hanging for the fringe],5 and the Torah has said, ‘Thou shalt make6 and not use what is ready made’.7 R. Zera [it was reported,] removed [the fringes from] his linen garment.8 Rab Zera said, It is also to be feared that one will use it as a night wrap. 9 Raba also said, I stated the following and in the West it was similarly reported in the name of R. Zera: If the garment is made of cloth and the corners thereof of leather, it is subject to zizith; If the garment is made of leather10 and the corners thereof of cloth, it is exempt. What is the reason? Because we consider the main part of the garment. R. Ahai, however, always decided according to the material of the corner.11 Raba said in the name of R. Sehora who said it in the name of R. Huna, If a man inserted fringes in the corners of a three-cornered garment and then added a fourth corner [and inserted a fringe therein], it is invalid, because of the rule ‘Thou shalt make, and not use what is ready made’.12 An objection was raised: The pious men of old used to insert the zizith13 as soon as three fingerbreadths of the garment had been woven!14 — Render: they used to insert the fringes as soon as the last three fingerbreadths had been reached. Do we then always apply the rule ‘Thou shalt make, and not use what is ready made’? Surely R. Zera has said that if a man inserted fringes in a garment that was already provided with fringes,15 it is valid!16 — Raba replied, Since one thereby transgresses the law of Thou shalt not add thereto,17 the act done is not considered at all. R. Papa demurred: How do you know that this man's intention was to add [to the other fringes]? Perhaps it was to cancel the others, so that there was no transgression of ‘Thou shalt not add thereto’; accordingly the act done is considered an act. 18 R. Zera said in the name of R. Mattena who said it in the name of Samuel, [A garment that is provided with] fringes does not come within the prohibition of diverse kinds,19 and [it is the same] even though the garment was exempt from zizith. What is meant by ‘a garment exempt from zizith’? Does it mean a garment smaller than the prescribed measure? But it has been taught: A garment with which a child can cover his head and most of his body, thus postponing the Passover Festival for a month, or intercalation of the month whereby another day is added to the month and thus postponing the Day of Atonement (or any Festival that comes in the subsequent month) by one day, were announced to the public by means of notices and letters. positive precept, for Holy Writ declares, That they make them fringes (Num. XV, 38), that is to say, the threads must be prepared specifically for the zizith. waived by the precept since the precept is not properly performed. (e.g., if worn by night) one transgresses the prohibition of diverse kinds. obligation for fringes, and when the obligation falls due, i.e. when the fourth corner is added, the fringes are found to be already made. fringes, one at each corner, and the other two fringes they inserted when the cloth was finished. Now it is clear that the obligation of fringes falls due only when the weaving is finished, nevertheless, it is taught here, that the first two fringes are deemed valid and are not regarded as ready made. the first set of four fringes were cut away. them, since the first set of fringes had not yet been removed. that the fringe so made is null and void, and therefore only when the first set is removed does the second set of fringes come into existence, Where, however, the fringes were inserted in a three-cornered garment, this act, not being an infringement of the law, is an act of consequence, and when a fourth corner is added and a fringe attached thereto, the first three fringes are disqualified as being ready made. with the principle laid down.